Akshaya patra reaches out to Puri flood victims

The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a not-for-profit, Bangalore-based secular trust, evolved a free lunch program in schools in the year 2000.

As the foundation continued to feed the underprivileged children, it also extended a helping hand to the flood affected victims in Orissa. As the flood created havoc across the state Akshaya Patra Foundation took upon itself the challenge to be with the people at the time of disaster and need. Puri district is severly affected with flood since last week. Many people are homeless and food supplied by Akshaya Patra is the only meals available to fill their hungry stomach. Although Puri district is flooded with water from Mahanadhi basin, Jagannath Dham remain unaffected.

The foundation distributed food to the victims for four continuous days from September 20 - 23, 2008 with cooked nutritious food. This benefited more than 1.25 lakh victims in the worst flood hit areas of Pipilli Block, Kanas, Puri, Teispur, Satsankha, Balanga and Satyabadi.

Shri, Madhu Pandit Das, Chairman The Akshaya Patra Foundation, said “it is our social responsibility to help our fellow beings in the time of need and distress, our centralized kitchen in Puri is well equipped, with such infrastructure we can cook food for one lakh in less than six hours and hence it was our duty to reach out to support the victims of the flood.”

The foundation also pleads to all the people across the country to extend a helping hand for the victims of the flood, as the surging water from the beaches has submerged most of the area of Puri District.